Jack Hughes wins the duel against Kaapo Kakko

Like in 2017, the New Jersey Devils were again the first team to choose a player at this year’s NHL Entry Draft. Was it last season with the Swiss Nico Hischier still a small sensation, was this year’s selection for the Devils pretty clear and decided to the US American Jack Hughes. Hughes has long been considered the favorite but you’ve always wondered if he’ll be ready for the NHL in October. That the US American has the best conditions, proved the center forward several times. So he was already at the U18 World Cup 2018 the most valuable player of the tournament. This year he eliminated with the 7 goals and 9 Assist the old record of Alexander Ovechkin. Jack also outperformed his brother Quinton, who was drafted #7 in the first round last year by the Vancouver Canucks.

Jack Hughes after the election: „I’m so happy to be with the New Jersey Devils Organization and there are many good players in the Devils.“ As last year’s Swede Rasmus Dahlin was called First Round Pick #1, the North Americans‘ wait for a 1st Round #1 pick came to an end. As the last American, Auston Matthews received this honor in 2016. For the Canadians, on the other hand, it is still waiting. Five years ago, the last player from Canada, Connor McDavid, was placed in this position.

In recent months, it has been discussed whether the Finn Kaapo Kakko in this year’s draft Jack Hughes could still snatch the top draft. In May he became world champion with Finland in Bratislava. After his U18 World Championship title in 2018 and the U20 World Junior title in January 2019, this was the third win of a World Cup in a season. The Finnish winger was now drafted by the New York Rangers as Pick #2.

The first open question was who would be chosen as Pick #3. This was achieved by the Canadian center Kirby Dach, which was selected by the Blackhawks and his countryman Bower Byram snached away this honor. Byram is still pleased, though, as he was the first defender to be called pick #4 on the Colorado Avalanche this year’s draft.

After Dominik Bokk, who was represented in the top 10 talents for the first time since Leon Draisaitl 2014 (Round 1 #3) last year, the Germans are back. Moritz Seider is practically directly from the DEL, where he plays for the Adler Mannheim, directly into the NHL. He was pulled as Pick #6 by the Detroit Red Wings.

With Defender Philip Broberg, Pick #8 was the first Swede in this year’s draft. For Sweden, this means that for the first time since 2017, where Alexander Nylander was drafted as a 1st Round #8 pick, he has no player among the top five players.

In 2017, the Russian climber Klim Kostin was just drafted 31st in the first round. Last year Andrei Svechnikov was called by the Hurricanes as the second player of the Entry Draft. This year it was not ideal, but succeeded with Vasily Podkolzin, a player from the KHL, the leap into the NHL. The player of SKA St. Petersburg was pick #10 and greeted with much jubilation, since the hosts of this year’s draft, the Vancouver Canucks, decided for the Russian.

Pick #13 ended the waiting for the first goalie of the Draft 2019. The Florida Panthers secured the big favorites in this position, Spencer Knight, from the US-U18 team. Thus, US players clearly dominate this first round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.